SESSION WEEKLY A NONPARTISAN PUBLICATION MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES • PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES VOLUME 24, NUMBER 11 • MARCH 16, 2007 THE STATE’S OTHER GOVERNMENTS GROCERIES WITH WINE EXEMPTIONS FOR THE ‘BACK 40’ HF1891- HF2164 SESSION WEEKLY Session Weekly is a nonpartisan publication of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services. During the 2007-2008 Legislative Session, each issue reports House action between Thursdays of each week, lists bill introductions and provides other information. No fee. To subscribe, contact: Minnesota House of Representatives CONTENTS Public Information Services 175 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. HIGHLIGHTS St. Paul, MN 55155-1298 Agriculture • 5 Energy • 9 Humanities • 13 (651) 296-2146 or (800) 657-3550 or the Minnesota Relay service at 711 or Business • 5 Environment • 10 Immigration • 13 (800) 627-3529 (TTY) Consumers • 5 Game & Fish • 10 Law • 13 www.house.mn/hinfo/subscribesw.asp Crime • 6 Government • 11 Military • 14 Education • 6 Health & Human Services • 11 Notes • 16 Director Elections • 8 Higher Education • 12 Taxes • 15 Barry LaGrave Employment • 9 Housing • 13 Transportation • 15 Editor/Assistant Director Lee Ann Schutz Assistant Editor BILL INTRODUCTIONS (HF1891-HF2164) • 18 - 23 Mike Cook Art & Production Coordinator Paul Battaglia Writers FEATURES Nick Busse, Craig Green, FIRST READING: Non-elected, MAC and Met $900 million budget Stephen Harding, Sonja Hegman, Patty Ostberg, Mia Simpson draws concern • 3-4 Chief Photographer AT ISSUE: Technology’s role could increase in elections • 17 Tom Olmscheid MINNESOTA INDEX: Not working for a livin’ • 24 Photographers Andrew VonBank, Sarah Stacke Staff Assistants Christy Novak, Joan Bosard Session Weekly (ISSN 1049-8176) is published weekly during the legislative session by Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, 175 State Office Building, 100 Rev. 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On the cover: The Minnesota State Capitol dome from inside the rotunda. —Photo by: Andrew VonBank FIRST READING MAC and Met — the state’s other governments Little legislative oversight over combined $900 million budget draws concern PHOTO BY ANDREW VONBANK The mission of the Metropolitan Airports Commission is to “provide and promote safe, convenient, environmentally sound and cost competitive aviation services for our customers” BY CRAIG GREEN and Transit Policy Subcommittee referred the hen large appropriation bills are before the Legislature, bill without recommendation to the House Transportation Finance Division. they go through several committee hearings followed by A companion bill, SF580, sponsored by Sen. debate on the House and Senate floor. If the bill passes, Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing), awaits action by the Senate Transportation Committee. there is the threat of a gubernatorial veto. Specifically referring to the recent MAC W When projects are presented to the Metropolitan Airports Commission lease negotiations that are expected to save Northwest Airlines more than $239 million, and the Metropolitan Council, elected officials do not have a say. The Hornstein believes that the bill would provide two bodies, whose members are not elected, are free to make their own a public forum to discuss issues involving large sums of taxpayer money. “It guarantees policy and budget decisions. They have combined budgets of more than that our constituents, through the legislative $900 million, and $2.8 billion in outstanding debt. process, have an opportunity to publicly discuss and examine an agreement that has far-reaching implications for the future of aviation in the state,” Hornstein said. This policy autonomy and financial power operates, however, are nothing new. Negotiations between airports and airline has some legislators thinking it’s time for a Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn carriers is part of the normal business of change. Center), chair of the House Local Government running an airport, and for the Legislature to and Metropolitan Affairs Committee, said get involved in day-to-day management would recent attention to the MAC is not unusual. Control issues not help, said MAC Executive Director Jeffrey “Whenever there are big events, like the The MAC was created by state law in 1943 Hamiel. Coming to an agreement with the Northwest contract or the noise lawsuits to coordinate aviation services throughout the airlines, like the recent airline negotiations, against the MAC, concerns about governance Twin Cities metropolitan area. Today, with a is what the MAC has been commissioned by come up,” Hilstrom said. budget of approximately $243 million, it is the the Legislature to do. third-largest aviation system in the country, During the last biennium, a bill was owning and operating the Minneapolis-St. proposed to require the commission to submit Paul International Airport and six reliever all budgets for approval, while another bill Council membership Established by statute in 1967, the airports. would have abolished the MAC altogether. Metropolitan Council’s mission is to The commission has 15 members: 13 are One of four House bills introduced as of coordinate the planning and development of appointed by the governor – eight members March 13 dealing with the commission is the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan from the metro area; four from Greater HF673, sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein area. With a current budget of $665 million Minnesota; and a chair. The additional two (DFL-Mpls). and broad taxing authority, the council seats are for the mayors of Minneapolis and Approved by the committee March 7, the bill implements and manages programs in St. Paul or their designee. would prohibit the commission from entering regional planning, transportation, wastewater With recent high profile issues in the into any agreement that results in reduction of treatment and a regional park system. media, the MAC has come under more a carrier’s costs by more $100 million, unless scrutiny, and the call for change has become the agreement is approved by the Legislature. louder. Attempts to change the way the MAC One week later, the House Transportation First Reading continued on page 4 March 16, 2007 Session Weekly 3 First Reading continued from page 3 With all 16 council members and the chair appointed by the governor, calls for changes to the selection process began almost immediately. Two years after it was created, a bill was introduced calling for council members to be elected. In 1977, a Senate task force was created to investigate whether there was a need for the council, and if not, how to proceed. Though the committee recommended 4-2 for elections, and though many bills have since been introduced in the House and the Senate, the governor appointments continue. As of March 13, 10 bills have been introduced PHOTO BY ANDREW VONBANK this year that would directly affect the council. More than 35 million passengers travelled through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Under HF312, also sponsored by Hornstein, the 2006. There were 475,656 landings and takeoffs there last year. 16 council members would be elected to four- year terms (the chair would be elected from The bill was approved by the House Local However, Hilstrom said, there also is a among these members), and council districts Government and Metropolitan Affairs consensus among committee members that would be redrawn after each federal census. Committee March 5, and awaits action by the changes need to be made. What those changes Former state legislator Myron Orfield (DFL- House Governmental Operations, Reform, are, that still has to be worked out. Mpls) said that the council is a body with Technology and Elections Committee. A In a recent discussion about a bill that unprecedented power in need of legislative similar bill, sponsored by Orfield, passed would expand the membership of the MAC, oversight. As the third largest local government during the 1997 session but was vetoed by Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker) offered a unique in the state, it needs to be held responsible for Gov. Arne Carlson. take. What if the MAC goes away, and the its actions, Orfield said. A companion bill, SF81, sponsored by Sen. Metropolitan Council oversees the airport Peter Bell, chairman of the council, said Chuck Wiger (DFL-North St. Paul), awaits and all the metropolitan issues? “Maybe we it has “broader and deeper support than action on the Senate floor. put it all together,” he said. it ever has.” Citing many of the council’s Not much was said about Howes’ accomplishments, Bell argued that elections The next steps suggestion. But Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL- would lead to a less diverse council, disruptions Witnesses testified before the House Local Bloomington), who lives less than 10 miles in ongoing projects and political concerns Government and Metropolitan Affairs from Minneapolis-St. Paul International would begin to outweigh the council’s Committee that both entities are well- Airport, nodded in agreement. regional focus. managed and effective. Constitutional Officers Governor Attorney General Secretary of State TIM PAWLENTY (R) Lori Swanson (DFL) MARK RITCHIE (DFL) Room 130 State Capitol Executive Offices Election Center 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Room 102 State Capitol Room 180 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 100 Rev. 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